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FROM AP: 10 Things to Know for Wednesday
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FROM AP: The nation's weather
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Blog
Undoubtedly, Romney will have to engage on the topic at some point during the next five months of the general election. What will he say when he does?
Two weeks ago the crackdown on peaceful protests at the university in Aleppo triggered a hemorrhage of support for the government. The international reaction to the Houla massacre seems set to accelerate that erosion.
There's a new scarlet letter in town. Actually, it's the same letter -- "A" -- but it stands for a different word that's increasingly regarded as shameful: Austerity. The darling idea of 2010 and 2011 has become the pariah concept of 2012. And the evidence of profound change is all around, from France and Greece to Germany and -- gasp -- the Republican Party. The change, when it comes to the conventional wisdom on austerity, has come from a combination of public pressure and leadership: one pushing up from below, the other pressing down from above. None of this means that we should break out the Keynesian champagne any time soon. But it's clear the forces of austerity are in retreat. And that's a very good thing.
While you are still going gently into this "good" election and before you "rage against" your opponent, you might do well to remember that Senators Clinton and McCain lost the election as much as you won it.
With New York City supporters like Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee has no need of enemies.
There is a serious disconnect here. On economic issues, Mitt Romney would be a disaster for any middle class voter who is struggling financially. Why do only some of those voters see it?
One thing is certain thus far in the election cycle: we have two well-armed and savvy political teams that are unlikely to let any shot from the opposition go without response.
What we've seen in the last few years is the gradual and systematic transformation of the far right's pundit class into the mainstream right's elected class.
A government that would cut support to middle-class families trying to support their disabled children so the wealthy can get more tax breaks would be a government with no decency.
If the Ron Paul actually wants to see President Obama defeated in November, he should bow out of the Republican nomination process quickly, accept whatever offer the Romney camp offers him for a speaking slot during the convention, and endorse the inevitable nominee.
A thoughtful look at the education policies of both candidates leaves very little to cheer about for true education reformers.
Romney would have to soften his stance on these issues to make even marginal headway with black voters. That would trigger screams of betrayal from ultra-conservatives. The risk is far too great and the rewards to little for him to take that chance.
Edward Conard has gotten a lot of press lately for writing a book that praises income inequality. Indeed, it is hard to ignore the hasty and ill-informed arguments he makes.
Of course, there are Latino libertarians out there. But in general, talking Hispanics into espousing the Ron Paul agenda is only slightly easier than getting the pope to show up at the Stonewall Inn for a drink.
It's summer, and now the talk about vice-presidential candidates rises. It's 'veepstakes' season, and Romney must make one of the hardest and most important choices of his political life.
Three and a half years ago, Barack Obama was granted a position of leadership by the citizens of the United States. We are his stakeholders and should judge him on the job that he was elected to do as well.
